Canadian air pollution and World Health Organization standards

Submitted by Rob Wickens on July 28

In May, the World Health Organization updated the acceptable levels of small particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone. The information presented by CBC News referencing an editorial by the Canadian Medical Association Journal calls for Canada to adjust it levels saying “Canada can't afford complacency on air pollution”.

The article goes on to state that “Health Canada was involved in the drafting stages of the WHO's

air-pollution resolution.” and that “Canadian provinces regularly out-perform the newly adopted WHO guidelines, in addition to long-held national standards.” Read the CBC News article here >>

Is Canada keeping up with the WHO standards? With further reading, it looks like in 2015 that new lower levels were set for PM 2.5 and Ozone via the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) though, as confirmed in the news article, these levels are higher than the new standards established by the WHO http://www.ccme.ca/en/current_priorities/air/caaqs.html

The article goes on to state air pollution is a “Silent Killer” and air pollution levels vary greatly geographically across Canada. The crux of the article is that reducing air pollution will help reduce many health issues and mortality rates.

I does appear that Health Canada is aware of the air pollution standards discrepancy, though the question remains as to when these standards may be lowered again?